The bad news is: The only free drugs I know of were available to members of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) who have allergies. The good news is, I can definitely see the idea catching on.
BCBSRI ran a year-long test through its pharmacy benefits manager, WellPoint
The rollout might be gradual, but I think we'll see bigger health insurers like UnitedHealth
If the practice really catches on -- and why wouldn't it? -- it could be a win for everyone except the pharmaceutical companies. The real winners could be the generic-drug makers who specialize in OTC drugs, like Perrigo
Don't just toss the next flyer your health insurance company mails you. It could be your ticket into a free-drug program.
Your ailing portfolio needs a Foolish treatment:
- Benefiting From 2008's Generic Drugs
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- 8 Generic-Drug Makers for 2008
- Is Health-Care Insurance Really Sick?
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Fool contributor Brian Orelli, Ph.D., doesn't own shares of any company mentioned in this article. The Fool has a disclosure policy.